Wrong Way Driver Led to a Head-on Fatal Crash on I-65 in Downtown Indianapolis

Shortly after 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning on November 10th, emergency crews responded to reports of a serious crash on I-65 southbound near 21st Street. Upon arrival responders found the aftermath of a head on crash between a semi-tractor trailer and a passenger car. The driver of the passenger car, 20 year old Eric Petruzzi of Carmel, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the semi was treated for minor injuries by medics and released.

Preliminary investigation leads police to believe the grey 2012 Nissan, driven by Petruzzi, entered the interstate driving northbound in the southbound lanes. That vehicle struck a southbound semi tractor-trailer head-on. The interstate was closed for nearly six hours while the crash was investigated and the wreckage removed. As protocal for all fatal crash investigations, the driver of the semi, Petr Kilimmik of Virginia, submitted to a test for alcohol, and those results are pending. There was no indication to investigating officers that the driver of the semi was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. During the Coronor’s investigation, the blood of the deceased will also be tested for the presence of drugs or alcohol.

This is an ongoing investigation and there is no further information available at this time. The results of the blood tests can take several weeks.